[Construction and analysis of gene co-expression networks in intracranial aneurysm].

Objective: To analyze the expression microarray data in the public databases of intracranial aneurysms (IA) using bioinformatics, and to provide important information for the study of disease mechanisms. Methods: Gene co-expression network was constructed by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) based on the dataset (GSE75436) and pivot genes were identified. Using the online tool DAVID (Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery) to perform GO function enrichment and KEGG path analysis on modules highly related to IA. Results: Three IA-related modules were screened out, and 14 pivot genes (COL3A1, SPARC, CDH11, COL5A1, HOPX, CLEC11A, GALNT10, ADAMTS2, CEMIP, KIAA1755, COL11A1, ZIC2, CDKN2A, and LINC00460) in the brown module were identified; the analysis of GO showed that the brown module was mainly enriched in extracellular matrix organization, extracellular matrix organization, cell adhesion and other biological processes; the analysis of KEGG indicated that the brown module involved in ECM-receptor interaction, Focal adhesion, protein digestion and absorption, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Conclusion: Based on WGCNA, we identified modular and pivotal genes that are critical to the development of IA, and they may become potential biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets.

[A prospective controlled study on the proper time of intratympanic steroid for profound sudden sensorineural hearing loss of total frequency type].

Objective: To investigate the proper time of intratympanic steroid as combination therapy in treatment of patients with profound sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL) of total frequency type. Methods: This prospective study included 50 patients with SSNHL in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from June 2017 to February 2018.All these patients had profound hearing loss averaged more than 81 dB at all frequencies (250-8 000 Hz). They were divided into two groups.The patients in group A were treated with simultaneous oral prednisone (1 mg/kg, qd) and intratympanic methylprednisolone (40 mg, qd) for 5 days.The patients in group B were treated with oral prednisone for 5 days as in group A, and then those who had no significant improvement were subsequently treated with intratympanic methylprednisolone (40 mg, qd)for further 5 days.All patients were treated with additional intravenous batroxobin and ginkgo biloba leaves extract.Following examination of pure tone audiogram, hearing gains and effective rates were statistically analyzed in both groups with SPSS software package(version 20.0). Results: Hearings in both groups were improved significantly after treatment.In group A(20 cases), hearing gain was (29.2±22.7) dB and total effective rate was 65.0%, while in group B(22 cases), they were (27.3±22) dB and 68.2% respectively.There were no significant differences in hearing gain and recovery rate between two groups (hearing gain, P=0.793; total effective rate, P=0.827). Conclusions: For patients with profound SSNHL of total frequency type, the efficacies of intratympanic steroid as simultaneous and subsequent therapy are equivalent. Therefore, subsequent intratympanic glucocorticoid is recommended for SSNHL patient of total frequency type to reduce complications and medical expenses.

[The surgical treatment of ovarian cancer metastasis between liver and diaphragm: a report of 83 cases].

Objective: To explore the safety and feasibility of associating diaphragm resection and liver-diaphragmatic metastasis lesions resection for patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Methods: Retrospectively analysis 83 cases(98 times) of advanced ovarian cancer with liver-diaphragmatic metastasis between January 2012 and December 2016 at Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital.The patients were aged from 19 to 75 years.Surgical procedure included metastatic lesions resection(43 times) and stripping(55 times). Operation status, post-operative complications, pathology results and follow-up of the patients were analyzed. Results: Fifteen patients received twice surgical treatment and 68 patients received one time surgical treatment. Postoperative hemorrhage in chest and between liver and diaphragm was not occurred in all cases.Dyspnea and low oxygen saturation were occurred in two cases of stripping patients and 1 case of metastatic lesions resection patients.Results of CT examination indicated that there was medium to large amount of ascites in right chests.The symptoms were relieved after placing thoracic closed drainage.Other patients were recovered smoothly.All patients were diagnosed as ovarian cancer by pathological examination. Conclusion: Associating diaphragm resection is safe and feasible for liver-diaphragmatic metastasis lesions from ovarian cancer.

[Analysis of the relevant factors for recurrent sudden sensorineural hearing loss].

Objective: To investigate the possible factors related to recurrence and prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL). Methods: Four hundred and ninety-five patients with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss between January 2013 to April 2014 were analyzed retrospectively(34 patients lost to follow-up with a dropout rate of 6.87%). Twenty of the 495 patients were diagnosed as recurrent SSNHL and treated again in the same hospital. The data of the patients were summarized to analyze the related factors which might influence the recurrence and prognosis of SSNHL. Results: In the 20 patients with recurrent SSNHL, 19 had the second attack in same ear as the first attack, and the other one had in both ears. There were seven male patients, and thirteen female patients. Patients ranged in age from 24 to 77years, with a median age of 39.5 years. Types of hearing loss: low frequency in eight patients, high frequency in two patients, flat frequency in eight patients, total deafness in two patients, the types of the second attack in 17 patients were same as the first attack, only one patient was changed from total deafness to flat frequency, one case was changed from flat frequency to high frequency, one case changed from flat frequency to total deafness. The intervals between of the first attack time and the second attack time were 1-36 months with the median time of 3.5 months. After systemic oral and (or) transtympanic steroid treatment, recovered in three cases, effective in three cases and 14 cases invalid, the cure rate was 15%, and the total effective rate was 30%. There were statistically significant differences in the recovery rate(χ2=8.640, P<0.05) and the overall response rate(χ2=12.379, P<0.01)between the first and the second treatments. For the patients with vertigo and/or dizziness, with a history more than seven days, with hypertension or diabetes mellitus, and with a type of hearing loss except low frequency type, the treatment effect was invalid. The patients with hearing loss at low frequency had the best outcomes. The total effective rates were significant different between patients younger and old than 34 years old(P<0.05). There was no difference in the total effective rate between genders, and patients with or without tinnitus and/or aural fullness in the recurrent SSNHL(P>0.05). The recurrence rates of patients with various types of hearing loss were different(F=7.744, P<0.05), with a highest recurrence rate in patients with hearing loss at low frequency. Other factors such as gender, age, accompanied diseases (hypertension or diabetes mellitus), associated symptoms, interval from onset to treatment had no effects on the recurrence rate. Conclusions: Recurrence of SSNHL is more likely to be found in patients with hearing loss of low frequency and flat type. The prognosis of recurrent SSNHL is poorer than that of the first episode, and may be related to the age and type of hearing loss.

Pathways involved in the spread of buccal carcinoma on contrast-enhanced multislice CT.

OBJECTIVES: To explore how buccal carcinoma spread, using contrast-enhanced multislice CT (CEMSCT). METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the extent of lesions in 56 patients with primary buccal squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA). Abnormal manifestations on CEMSCT at oral subsites and involved adjacent structures were documented and evaluated, which were compared with the results of surgery and histopathology. RESULTS: Infiltration and spread to oral subsites and/or adjacent structures was confirmed in 33 patients (58.9%). The opening of the Stensen duct was the most commonly invaded oral subsite (72.7%); other sites included the gingivobuccal sulcus (60.6%), pterygomandibular raphe (54.5%), gingiva (24.2%), retromolar trigone (24.2%), orbicularis oris (18.2%) and the floor of mouth (15.2%). Of the involved adjacent structures, the buccal space was the most common site of spread (69.7%), followed by the masticatory muscles and spaces (57.6%), bone (54.5%), skin and subcutaneous fat (39.4%), pharynx (30.3%), investing fascia (15.2%) and the base of the skull (6.1%). CEMSCT manifestations of the involvement in buccal SCCAs had correlations with pathological findings (p < 0.05). The sensitivities, specificities and accuracies of two radiologists' evaluation on buccal carcinoma involvement were 50.00%, 23.21% and 73.21%; and 51.79%, 32.14% and 83.93%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Buccal SCCAs could superficially and deeply spread to multiple oral subsites and/or adjacent structures. CEMSCT could delineate their spread pathways and extents.

Report of 457 sporotrichosis cases from Jilin province, northeast China, a serious endemic region.

BACKGROUND: Most reported sporotrichosis cases came from South American countries, the USA, India and Japan. This mycosis is also endemic in Northeast China. However, the situation is not clear for international researchers due to lack of large series reported in English. OBJECTIVES: To report and analyse 457 sporotrichosis cases. METHODS: Retrospective study of 457 cases of sporotrichosis diagnosed by fungal culture at the First Hospital of Jilin University from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2009. RESULTS: In this series, the male: female ratio was 1:1.42. Mean age was 41.2 years. Cases from age group 51-60 years accounted for most of the cases (22.54%). A total of 434 patients lived in rural areas (94.97%). The onset of symptoms in 67.61% cases happened in cold seasons (winter and spring). History of trauma presented in 133 cases (29.1%). The mean duration of the symptoms before the presentation was 6.41 months. A total of 190 (41.58%) showed lymphocutaneous form, 252 patients (55.14%) showed fixed form, 8 patients (1.75%) showed disseminated cutaneous sporotrichosis and the clinical form of 7 patients (1.53%) could not be defined. Extremities and nodules were the most frequently involved sites and founded manifestation. Main histopathology findings were suppurative granuloma, tuberculoid granuloma and mixed inflammatory granuloma. A total of 75 cases (19.74%) had fungal elements revealed by Periodic Acid-Schiff staining. Patients responded well to potassium iodide (KI), itraconazole, terbinafine and combinations of these agents with a mean course of 2.17 months to resolve. CONCLUSION: As the first report of a large series of sporotrichosis cases from China to be published in English literature, our study indicated a serious sporotrichosis endemic situation in Jilin province, Northeast China, with epidemiological and clinical characteristics similar to those of previous Chinese reports, but different from those in other countries. KI, itraconazole and terbinafine are effective for the treatment.

Efficacy and safety of itraconazole pulses vs. continuous regimen in cutaneous sporotrichosis.

BACKGROUND: Primary observation of using itraconazole pulse regimen (commonly used for onychomycosis) in five sporotrichosis patients produced satisfactory effect, but there are no randomized controlled trials to assess this regimen and to compare with routine continuous regimen. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of itraconazole pulse regimen, as a new treatment option for cutaneous sporotrichosis, with continuous regimen. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, evaluator-blind, controlled study was performed. A total of 50 cutaneous sporotrichosis patients were divided randomly into two groups: Pulsed Rx (npulse=25), treated with itraconazole 200 mg b.i.d. for 1 week and off for 3 weeks; Daily Rx (ncont=25), treated with itraconazole 100 mg bid continuously. In total, 46 patients (npulse=22, ncont=24) were assessable at the end of the study. Cure rates at weeks 12, 24 and 48 along with the course of treatment and the rate of side effects were evaluated. RESULTS: In Pulsed Rx, the cure rates at weeks 12, 24 and 48 were 77.3%, 81.8%, 81.8% respectively. The mean course of treatment was 2.65±0.81 pulses and the rate of side effects was 4.5%; In Daily Rx, the corresponding cure rates were 79.2%, 91.7% and 95.8% respectively. The mean course of treatment was 2.80±2.33 months and the rate of side effects was 16.7%. These parameters had no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The efficacy and safety of Itraconazole pulse regimen for cutaneous sporotrichosis were similar to the continuous regimen. It is an effective and safe alternative treatment for cutaneous sporotrichosis, which can also lower the cost by decreasing the number of capsules.

Nonfunctioning pancreatic endocrine tumors. An immunohistochemical and electron microscopic analysis of 26 cases.

Twenty-six patients with non-functioning pancreatic endocrine tumor (NFPET) were operated on during a 22-year period (1968-1990) at PUMC Hospital, Beijing. Of these, 19 were female and 7 were male with a mean age of 33 years. All these tumors, including 12 malignant and 14 benign, were solitary, and most of them were well-encapsulated. Immunohistochemical staining showed 23 (88.5%) containing 1-4 kinds of peptide hormone and 18 (69.2%) being multihormonal. In 7 of the 9 tumors subjected to electron microscopic study, various amounts of neurosecretory granules were found. Tumors of this series were clinically silent, but they contained some immunoreactive peptides, although the amount of the peptides varied from tumor to tumor.

Gastric gastrinoma.

Two patients with Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome were diagnosed and treated in PUMC Hospital, the primary tumors were found in the stomach. On sectioning of the gastrectomized specimens, 85 tumors ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 cm in diameter were disclosed in Case 1, and a large ulcero-infiltrative carcinoma-like tumor in Case 2. Both tumors had already metastasized to regional lymph nodes and/or liver. Tumor cells in both cases exhibited gastrin, NSE, GH and hCG alpha immunoreactivity immunocytochemically, and abundant neurosecretory granules of 100-250 nm in diameter under electron microscope. The clinicopathological, immunocytochemical and ultrastructural findings of tumors from these two cases met the criteria of primary malignant gastrinoma of the stomach.

Insulinoma: 31 years of tumor localization and excision.

This report is based on 31 years of experience with 116 cases of hyperinsulinism. Six cases had hypertrophy of the islets of Langerhans, 3 had widespead metastasis from malignant insulinomas, and 107 were benign adenoma cases. An immunoreactive insulin to glucose ratio of 0.3 of the peripheral venous blood before operation is of great value in diagnosing hyperinsulinism. Intraoperatively, immunoreactive insulin assay of the portal blood (IRI) is very valuable in determining if an insulinoma remains. The dividing line is 100 microU.ml-1. In localizing the tumor, "differential" PTPC is important before operation. During the operation, fine needle aspiration cytology may assist in ascertaining if the palpable tumor is an insulinoma. Multiple fine needle aspiration cytology examinations can sometimes reveal an insulinoma in an indurated pancreas. Portal vein blood IRI and blood sugar assays may serve to confirm if removal of the insulinoma is complete. Removal of the insulinoma controls hypoglycemia satisfactorily, but the brain damage incurred by prolonged hypoglycemia cannot be significantly altered. Removal of the tumor should be by enucleation, and the raw surface of the pancreas should be drained not sutured.

Watery diarrhea syndrome caused by multihormonal malignant pancreatic islet cell tumor secreting somatostatin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, serotonin, and prostaglandin E--a clinicopathological, biochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study.

The pathophysiological, biochemical, histological, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical characters of a case of malignant pancreatic islet cell tumor with watery diarrhea syndrome were carefully investigated. Four hormones or mediators--somatostatin (SST), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), serotonin, and prostaglandin E--were markedly elevated in the circulation. The diagnosis was further confirmed by exploratory laparotomy and autopsy. The contents of SST and VIP in tumor tissues were very high. Gel chromatography of tumor extract revealed single peaks for both SST and VIP. Immunohistochemical studies of tumor tissues showed numerous immunoreactive cells to anti-SST, moderate amount of VIP-positive cells, and a few hCG-, insulin-, and glucagon-positive cells. In conclusion, this is an unusual case of Verner-Morrison syndrome in which three kinds of bioactive hormones or mediators were simultaneously secreted; peptides, amine, and prostaglandin.

Insulinoma. An immunocytochemical and morphologic analysis of 95 cases.

One hundred twenty-seven insulinomas from 95 cases (1 malignant and 94 benign) were studied pathologically. Thirty-six tumors (35 cases) were examined by electron microscopy. Typical beta-cell secretory granules of crystalloid-form cores and/or atypical secretory granules were discerned in all tumors examined. A new type of secretory granule, with high electron-dense crystalloid-form cores and moderate electron-dense granular substance filling the space between the core and the limiting membrane, were observed in two cases. Among 68 insulinomas (67 cases) subjected to immunocytochemical investigations with ten peptide hormones (insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide (PP), gastrin, motilin, secretin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), and neurotensin), 42 were found to be multihormonal, varying from two to four peptides secreted. The hormones contained were insulin, glucagon, PP, somatostatin, and gastrin in different combinations. One patient had hyperinsulinemia and hypergastrinemia concurrently, and two islet tumors were excised at an interval of 10 months. Both electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry confirmed the presence of beta- and alpha-cells in the first tumor, whereas the second tumor revealed only G-cells by electron microscopy, and G- and beta-cells on immunocytochemical staining. The morphologic and immunocytochemical characteristics of the insulinomas in this series are discussed.